Regulatory T cells suppress virus-specific antibody responses to Friend retrovirus infection

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 3;13(4):e0195402. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195402. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Recent vaccine studies with experimental antigens have shown that regulatory T cells (Tregs) constrain the magnitude of B cell responses. This homeostatic Treg-mediated suppression is thought to reduce the potential of germinal center (GC) responses to generate autoreactive antibodies. However, essentially opposite results were observed in live influenza infections where Tregs promoted B cell and antibody responses. Thus, it remains unclear whether Tregs dampen or enhance B cell responses, especially during live viral infections. Here, we use mice infected with Friend retrovirus (FV), which induces a robust expansion of Tregs. Depletion of Tregs led to elevated activation, proliferation, and class switching of B cells. In addition, Treg depletion enhanced the production of virus-specific and virus-neutralizing antibodies and reduced FV viremia. Thus, in contrast to influenza infection, Tregs either directly or indirectly suppress B cells during mouse retroviral infection indicating that the ultimate effect of Tregs on B cell responses is specific to the particular infectious agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Friend murine leukemia virus / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Experimental / immunology*
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Retroviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G